Ryan Mancini
masslive.com (TNS)
First responders rescued two teenagers who were lost after they ventured out of bounds behind the Wachusett Mountain ski resort in Princeton on Wednesday.
Once outside the ski area, they were stuck in chest-deep snow, WCVB reported. One of the teens called 911 after being missing for three hours, a Wachusett Mountain ski resort spokesperson told the news station.
The Princeton Fire Department located them using dispatch technology to target a cell phone signal and lock onto GPS coordinates, according to the department’s Facebook page. The teenagers’ phone batteries were low at 9% and their location was two miles “from any civilization.”
Princeton firefighters and EMS received assistance from the Wachusett Mountain grooming department and ski patrol, WCVB reported. When their devices were targeted, the two teens were located. One was lying on top of the other in an effort to stay warm.
First responders could not immediately reach the boys, so ski groomers helped transport firefighters to the boys’ location and rescued them. An ambulance was on standby, but the boys refused medical assistance and were released to their families, WCVB reported.
“Personnel battled the elements, darkness and dangerous snow pack,” the fire department’s Facebook post read. “This could have ended tragically but these boys are very lucky and used their heads and shared body heat to survive.”
The two teenagers’ names were not released and Princeton fire chief John Bennett told WCVB that they will not be charged the cost of their rescue.
Following Tuesday’s nor’easter, Princeton received over 29 inches or 2 1/2 feet of snow accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.
©2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
